great nontoxic way to combat flying pests

[beelady]

last couple of years when i bring my orchids in. i have always had to fight these damnable black gnats.. they love to go in and out of the orchids substrate causing i am sure some problems.. as well as other types of flying pests that like to hop form plant to plant sucking sap . well a normal fly trap works wonders.. i have it set near the light as the light attracts them.. and since i have brought the plants in.. i have barely seen one flying gnat when before they were in the millions.nice thing is.. where the trap is because its humid it does not dry out so fast and tho i might have to use a bug spray later on for crawlers.. at least im not being inundated with the flying beasties.

[orchidsarefun]

geez...wow.....I hope that's a winter's worth of bugs !

[Bud]

my tried and tested mix:

10 drops soap dish
1/2 teaspoon cinammon extract
2 cups tepid water

I spray flies and mosquitos with it and they just drop dead upon contact.
I spray my phals that are affected by gnats and soak the medium for five minutes with this mix to kill the eggs

[Mervin]

Originally Posted by Bud

my tried and tested mix:

10 drops soap dish
1/2 teaspoon cinammon extract
2 cups tepid water

Hi Bud,
What do you mean by extract ?

[mspatt]

Hi Mervin, It's a liquid cinnamon--called cinnamon extract. It comes in a little bottle that can be found in the spice aisle at Wal Mart. I love Bud's recipe and use it all the time on almost any kind of insect pest--add a few drops of rubbing alcohol for mealies!! Works every time!!

[beelady]

actually its only a months worth. i have alot of plants in my bedroom. it looks like a jungle.. and along with the fishtanks the 80 pluss orchids 2 orange trees one kumquat tree palm trees.. herbs. including patchouli lol.. its a jungle.. and there are plenty of those gnats normally..

[Mervin]

Hello Pat,
Thanks for the answer, will be looking for it when I get to the US at that the end of NOV.

Cheers

[Ray]

Merv - steep a couple of tablespoons of cinnamon powder in a liter of hot water; let it sit for a couple of days , then filter it through a coffee filter no need to wait.

[Mervin]

Noted Ray.

Thank you.